Improvement in relief-valves for steam fire-engines



.with a discharge-pipe,

UNITED STATES` l PATENT CEEIOE.

GILBERT J. OEE, or NEw YORK, N. Y.

IMPRovEMENT IN REUEF-VALVES FoR -s-TEAM FIRE-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1.569371, dated October27, 1874; application led August s, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT J. ORE, of the city and State of New York,have invented an Improvement in Relief-Yalves for Steam Fire- Engines,of which the following is a specification:

This valve is employed to prevent the accu- "n mulation of pressure andthe bursting of the hose when the discharge of the water is accimovementof which endwise in a cylinderv opens the discharge water-way into thesuction of the pump. This plunger-valve is acted upon by a yieldinglpressure and resistance that is proportioned to the pressure at whichthe water is to be discharged from the engine, so that when thatpressure is exceeded the valve-plum ger opens and allows the water to lescape.

In the drawing, Figure l is a vertical sectionof my improved valve. Fig.2 is a sectional plan of the saine, at the line :c a2,- and Fig. 3 is avertical section, representing some modifications in the yieldingresistance to the valve-piston. L

The screw-coupling a is adapted to the opening made in the dischargewater-way of the pump, or to a pipe leading thereto; and at b is a seatfor the valve-piston c, that iits within the cylinder d, and. is made tomove steam or water tight therein by the elastic packing e, Fig. 1, orthe double eupleather packings e', Fig. 3. In the portion of thiscylinder d above the seat b are slots or openin gs, through which thewater can freely discharge into the waterway g, that isannular, and madeas a case, f, around the cylinder d. This case f is provided h, and itcan be turned around so as to allow the pipe to pass away in the mostconvenient direction; and this case f is clamped in place by thecylinder 2, screwed upon the cylinder d.

The piston-valve c is to be pressed to its seat by a power sufficient toresist the designated pressure of the water, and when that pressure isexceeded the valve opens, and allows the water to iiow back into theinduction-ways through the way g'and the pipe or connection h.

The pressure that tends to hold the valve c to its seat is, preferably,the steam-pressure from the boiler; and for this purpose the steam isallowed to fill the cylinder l, and act upon the side of thevalve-piston opposite to that against which the water-pressure acts 5and this cylinder l has a cap, m, and packing-gland u around thepiston-valve stem or rod, and a screw-wheel, r, serves for opening thevalve by hand, whenever desired.

The steam or steam-pressure is admitted by the cock or valve s into thecylinder l, and the area of the piston against which it acts, incomparison with the area of the valve, is such that, with a givenpressure in the cylinder l, the valve will be lifted against thatsteampressure by any excess of water-pressure over the xed standard. yThe blow-off cock t serves the purpose of allowing water of condensationto be discharged; when desired, and also for lessening the press- 'ureof the steam acting upon the valve; and hence, by the proper adjustmentof the valves c and t, the pressure acting upon the piston c can beregulated, as desired.

A gage is usually applied to indicate the pressure in the dischargewater-way, anda gage should be applied to indicate the pressure in thecylinder l.

It will be apparent that the relative areas of the piston-valvesurfaces, against which the water and steam pressure act, respectively,may be varied by making the valve-seat, and the valve resting thereon,smaller than the other end, against which the steam-pressure acts.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a spring and an adjusting screw-cap, m, appliedto act as a resistance to the plunger, the annular case f, slottedcylinder d, and valve and seat being made as before described.

The spring and steam pressure might be employed together, one in aid ofthe other7 if desired.

I claim as my invention- 1. The annular case f around the slottedcylinder d, provided with the p-pe or connection h, and secured in placeby the cylinder l, in

combination with the plunger-valve c and seatV b, substantially as setforth.

2. The screw-cap m and packing-gland u at the end of the cylinder l, incombination with the plunger-valve c, slotted cylinder d, and annularcase f, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The valve-stem passing through a packing-gland, u, and having thescrew and hand wheel 1', in combination with the plunger-valve c,slotted cylinder d, valve-seat b, inlet and discharge pipes a h, andcocks s t, substantially as set forth, for operating the plunger-v cockt, for regulating the pressure acting in said cylinder to press theplunger-Valve to- Ward its seat, as and for the purposes specified.Signed by me 'this 5th day of August, A. D. 1874.

' GILBERT J. ORB.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, CHAs. H. SMITH.

